Scottish Schools Championship

This report by Robin Copland:

The final of the Scottish Schools Championship at Murrayfield between Stewart’s Melville (skipped by Colin Dick) and Fortrose Academy (skipped by Peter Macintyre) was a cat and mouse game, tight and hard fought through the first three ends. I believe the turning point in the game was the fourth end. With skips' last stones to come, Fortrose were looking good to score a three or even a four. Peter attempted a promote, but his stone held wide and ended up pushing his shot into the open.

Colin’s attempted run-back double failed but crucially he nosed, forcing Pete to try the out-turn draw for his two. His draw caught a guard. A score of one went up on the scoreboard when a three had looked more likely.

The momentum swung in Stewart’s Melville’s favour. The team capitalised on this turn in the all-important sixth end, when a wrecked guard left Colin with a draw for three and, effectively, the game.

Fortrose Academy’s Peter McIntyre, Scott Fraser, Jamie Fraser and Neil Paul just failed in their quest to win the title for the first time in the school’s history. The winners were Colin Dick, Struan Wood, Douglas Burns, Jonathan Irwin and Neil Anderson (fifth).

World Junior Champion Kerry Barr presented the prizes to the winners and runners-up in front of a large and appreciative gallery.

An expanded report will be in the April Scottish Curler.

Photo above by Robin Copland. Back row: Tommy Hinnigan (RCCC President), Colin Dick (skip), Kerry Barr, Struan Wood (third), Front: Douglas Burns (second), Jonathan Irwin (lead) and Neil Anderson (fifth).